Published 5 May 2021
Basseterre
Buckie Got It, St. Kitts and Nevis News Source
Source: LOOP NEWS
Face-to-face classes are to resume in schools on Monday, May 10 for students sitting exit examinations.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness made the announcement on Tuesday during a ministerial statement in the House of Representatives. He noted that a significant number of students have not benefitted from face-to-face instructions since schools were closed on March 13, 2020, some three days after Jamaica confirmed its first case of COVID-19.
The students who will be returning to the classroom next Monday are those sitting the Primary Exit Profile (PEP), the Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate (CSEC), the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE), City and Guilds and the National Vocational Qualification examinations.
The more than 355 public schools to be involved are to be inspected by the Ministry of Health and Wellness to ensure that they abide by the COVID-19 infection and prevention protocols, said Holness.
“We are expecting that there will be strict adherence to these rules within the schools,” he stated.
The prime minister also advised that provisions have been made within the schools for the disbursement of grants for basic equipment and materials that are needed for sanitisation purposes.
To prevent overcrowding, only a subset of each cohort of students will be allowed at school each day, while others work remotely. This approach, the prime minister said, should also help to prevent crowding on public transportation.
He also said systems are in place to ensure that teachers involved in face-to-face instructions can get vaccinated as part of the infection prevention and control measures.
The prime minister disclosed that of approximately 25,000 public school teachers, roughly 7,500 have so far been vaccinated.
“It’s a fairly decent number (though) still not high enough to give us the satisfaction that we would need, but we do have a critical core who could carry the revision classes and the face-to-face classes that we need…,” said Holness.
He added that the Ministry of Education is to co-ordinate with parents and local transport providers to ensure the safe movement of students to and from schools. Those facing financial challenges in the process, are to be given assistance through the regional education offices.
The prime minister stressed that except for students writing exit exams, there should be no other face-to-face instruction in either public or independent schools.
